Lobbyist Joshua Nass Charged with Attempted Extortion Linked to Trump Pardon

Joshua Nass, a 34-year-old lobbyist and attorney from Charleston, South Carolina, was arrested by FBI agents on March 13, 2026, and charged with attempted Hobbs Act extortion in Brooklyn, New York. The charges stem from allegations that Nass attempted to extort $500,000 from a former client and his son, claiming it was owed for lobbying services related to a presidential pardon he helped secure from President Donald Trump for Joseph Schwartz, a former nursing home operator convicted of tax crimes.

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According to court documents, Nass had been paid $100,000 for his lobbying efforts on behalf of Schwartz, who was pardoned by Trump in November 2025 after pleading guilty to a $38 million employment tax fraud scheme. Nass had an agreement to provide $600,000 worth of services, but after receiving an initial payment of $100,000, the remaining balance was not paid. Nass allegedly viewed a request for a payment plan as an "insult," prompting him to resort to threats and intimidation.

The Independent

Prosecutors allege that Nass recruited an individual to act as an enforcer, instructing him to threaten and intimidate the former client's son to recover the owed funds. This included directives to physically assault the son or forcibly abduct him in a car with masked men. Nass reportedly agreed to pay the enforcer $15,000 for his efforts, which included an upfront payment of $5,000.

The Guardian

U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. stated, “As alleged, Nass plotted the violent extortion of one of his own clients and hired an individual to ‘do anything and everything’ to force the client’s son to pay for services.” FBI Assistant Director James Barnacle emphasized the agency's commitment to addressing violent crime and extortion schemes, noting, “Rather than honestly representing his client, Joshua Nass allegedly chose to shake him down by hiring an enforcer to extort payment.”

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The case has raised questions about the influence of lobbyists in the clemency process. Critics argue that the allegations against Nass highlight potential corruption within the system, suggesting that financial incentives may unduly influence presidential pardons. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed these claims, stating, “Anyone spending money to lobby for pardons is foolishly wasting their money, and the president doesn’t even know who these so-called ‘lobbyists’ are.”

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While court documents do not explicitly name the victims, they refer to them as "John Doe 1" and "John Doe 2," with strong indications that they are Joseph Schwartz and his son. The U.S. Attorney's Office has not confirmed whether the extortion attempt is directly linked to the pardon effort, leaving some ambiguity in the case.

New York Post

Nass is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment, where he faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The case continues to unfold as federal authorities investigate the extent of Nass's actions and their implications for the lobbying and clemency processes.

CNN

• “As alleged, Nass plotted the violent extortion of one of his own clients and hired an individual to ‘do anything and everything’ to force the client’s son to pay for services,” — Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. Attorney

The Guardian

• “rather than honestly representing his client, Joshua Nass allegedly chose to shake him down by hiring an enforcer to extort payment” — James Barnacle Jr., FBI Assistant Director

The Guardian